htmlwidgets
htmlwidgets lets R packages create interactive visualizations for the web.
About htmlwidgets
htmlwidgets is a package framework for R that turns R code into interactive web visualizations. It lets R users work with JavaScript visualization libraries such as D3, Leaflet, and Plotly without writing JavaScript. According to the homepage, a line or two of R code is enough to produce a graphic or map.
Widgets can be used at the R console, embedded in R Markdown reports, and included in Shiny web applications. Multiple widgets can be combined into dashboards with the flexdashboard package, and linked brushing and client-side filtering between widgets are supported through crosstalk. The homepage notes that more complex interactions require Shiny. The homepage also lists a gallery of more than 50 widgets and a framework for developing new widgets.
Key features
- Creates interactive web visualizations from a line or two of R code
- Wraps JavaScript visualization libraries for use in R
- Runs at the R console, in R Markdown reports, and in Shiny apps
- Combines multiple widgets into dashboards using flexdashboard
- Links widgets through linked brushing and client-side filtering via crosstalk
- Provides a framework for developing new R and JavaScript widgets
Best for: R users who want interactive charts, maps, or tables in reports, Shiny apps, or dashboards.
Good for
- Produces interactive versions of R plots with only a line or two of code
- Works across the R console, R Markdown documents, and Shiny applications
- Gives R users access to established JavaScript visualization libraries
Watch out for
- Linked brushing and client-side filtering are the widget interactions listed for crosstalk
- More sophisticated interactions require Shiny, according to the homepage
htmlwidgets at a glance
- Website
- htmlwidgets.org
- Category
- Design & Creative › Charts & Data Visualization
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Charts & Data Visualization
htmlwidgets alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Plotly provides an open-source Python library for creating interactive charts and data visualizations.
The Data Visualisation Catalogue explains chart types and techniques, with a searchable library organized by visualization function.
Pick
24 alternativesLeaflet supports interactive maps in JavaScript and can be used from R applications.
Google Data Studio connects to data sources and turns them into interactive dashboards and reports for business decisions.
amCharts lets users build interactive charts and maps in a browser from templates, then export, embed, or publish them.
Percival enables querying complex datasets and producing interactive graphics through a declarative data language.
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htmlwidgets FAQ
Can htmlwidgets be combined into a dashboard?
Yes. The homepage says multiple htmlwidgets can be composed into a dashboard using the flexdashboard package, which supports row- and column-based layouts.
How can widgets respond to each other?
Widgets can be wired together with the crosstalk package, which currently supports linked brushing and client-side filtering. The homepage says Shiny can be used for more complex interactions.
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